Some squadron patches USN/USMC

[Garth Thompson]

I'm not much on squadron patches but had a bit of luck recently.

Garth

 

#1 Original HMM - 362 "Archies Angels" the first USMC Helo squadron deployed to Vietnam. The Marine Corps' operational involvement in the Vietnam War began on April 9, 1962 when the HMM-362, Archie's Angels, with their Sikorsky UH-34s, arrived at Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon[1]. The task unit was called "Shufly" and its first operational employment involved lifting Vietnamese troops into battle.

[Garth Thompson]

#2 USN Patrol Squadron Eight circa 1947 when they started using P2V "Neptunes".

 

In June 1947, the squadron moved to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and began to operate the land-based P-2V

"Neptune" aircraft. With the move and transition, the squadron was redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron EIGHT,

and in September 1948 the squadron received its current designation, Patrol Squadron EIGHT. In 1950, VP-8 was

awarded its first Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E").

[Garth Thompson]

Finally I don't know what this one is. Any help from the squadron patch gurus will be appreciated.

[TBMflyer]

Garth, that is the patch of VP-26. Those are 3 sweet patches, if you ever want to dump them let me know, Mark.

[Garth Thompson]

Garth, that is the patch of VP-26. Those are 3 sweet patches, if you ever want to dump them let me know, Mark.

Mark,

Thanks for the ID. I found a brief history on the unit.

The squadron's history may be traced back to August 26, 1943, when Bombing Squadron 114, flying the PB4Y Liberator, was tasked with convoy protection duty during World War II. Our squadron directly protected the Allied Fleet from U-boats during the Normandy invasion in June 1944. In 1947, VP-26 actively participated in the Berlin Airlift, flying tons of medical supplies to the isolated Berliners. In 1948, the designation was changed to Patrol Squadron 26 and the squadron was based in Port Lyautey, Morocco until 1950. In 1951 the squadron received its second type of aircraft, the P-2V Neptune, and subsequently moved from Patuxent River, Maryland to Brunswick, Maine. While deployed at Thule, Greenland in 1956, all of the squadron's twelve Neptunes flew over the North Pole, making it the first Navy unit to accomplish this.

 

 

Do you think this patch is from the period when they were bombing squadron 114 since there is no PATROL SQUADRON 26 banner underneath the patch?

 

Garth

[TBMflyer]

Garth, the VP-26 insignia you have was approved by the CNO in June of 1950. I'm guessing it is from that period by the lack of a squadron tab below, hope this helps, Mark.

[Garth Thompson]

I had another bit of luck today at an estate sale of a WW2 Marine pilot. Got this nice period VMF-124 squadron patch. Unusual in that the patch usually has red background but this one has a black wool background. Two small holes but other than that very good condition. I saw his green and khaki uniforms being bought but the price had been set stupidly high, no wings or patches on them. Another guy had a jacket that looked like a trashed Japanese winter flight jacket. I got this patch, his PAL knife and a nice USN Aviator Son-in-Service pin.

Garth

 

VMF-124

First Corsair-equipped squadron, arrived Guadalcanal on Feb. 12, 1943, and escorted a rescue mission before lunch. Remained in the Solomons until Sept. 1943. Reorganized and trained at Mojave until Sept. 1944. In Jan. 1945 supported Philippine landings and struck Japan and Okinawa in early 1945.